Proportional letter-guide



H. H. SHIFFER.

PROPORTIONAL LETTER GUIDE.

AaPLlcATmu-HLED June 21. ma.

1,303,505. Patented May13,'1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. R. SHIFFEH..

PROPORTIONAL LETTER GUIDE. APPLICATIN FILE NNE 21. l9l8. l 1,303,505, y Patented May13,1919

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HARRY n. sHiEFEE, on BrtoWNsTowN,'PENNSYLVANIA PROPORTIONAL LETTERGUIDE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed .T une 27, 1918. Serial No. 242,246.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY R. SHIFEER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Brownstown, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Proportional Letter-Gruides, of which the fol- 'blowing is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide an instrument which facilitates the laying out of guide lines for lettering, so that the relative proportion between the small and large letters may be quickly and easily determined.

The main object of the invention is the provision of an instrument for the purpose aforesaid which is simple in construction and adapted to be quickly and accurately set according to the required height of the lettering desired, the instrument being of such construction that the setting of the main let ter results in an automatic proportionall setting of other elements thereby adaptingthe device for use in drawing the lines as guides for the contemplated lettering.

The invention furthermore aims to provide a device of the nature set forth which is light, adapted to be marketed at a comparatively nominal cost and which 1s eflicient for the purpose intended and adapted to be quickly adjusted according to the required wor The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions,l various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an in`V strument embodying the invention, a portion being broken away to show more clearly the means whereby the slide is retained in the adjusted position,

Fig. 2 `is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking to the left as designated by the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a perspective` view of one `of the pencil guides,

Fig. 4; is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification showing the slide at the eX- treme left of the base and the cooperating parts in normal position,

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 of Fig. l looking to the left as indicated by the arrows,

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper portion of he slide embodied in the modified form, an

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the slide fastening of the modification.

Corresponding and like. parts are referred to in the following description and indicated inthe several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The numeral l designates a base which preferably consists of an oblong blank of sheet material such as metal. Guide-ways 2 are provided at longitudinal edges of the base 1 and preferably consist of edge portions of the blank folded upon themselves. A scale graduation 3 is provided at one end of the base 1 to facilitate the proper spacing of the sets of guide lines. An opening 4 is provided in the base 1 near the left hand corner. The opening 4: is about in line with the lower end of the scale graduation 3 and determines the lowermost line of the group or set of guide lines which determine the lettering. A plurality of relatively inclined slots 5, 6, and 7 is formed in the base l. The inclination of the several slots relatively to the bottom of the base 1 varies and is determined according to the relative proportions of the'lines to be laid out according to the size of the lettering. In this connection it is to be understood that the base 1 may be provided with any number of inclined slots andthe latter may have any frelative inclination.

A slide 8 is mounted on the base 1 and is directed in its movements thereon and re tained in place by means of the guide-ways 2 in which opposite end portions of the slide are mounted. `This slide 8 is likewise preferably formed of sheet material such as metal. A plurality of slots 9, 10 and 11 is formed in the slide 8 in parallel and spaced relation and perpendicular to the lower edge of the slide. A scale graduation 12 isprovided on the slide 8 in suchV relation as to'coperate etV with adjacent slots andis designed to determine the height of the lettering. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the slide 8 in adjusted position and as shown in Fig. 1 a spring 13 is set into a recess 14 formed in the upper edge of the slide 8 and is retained in place by the upper guide-way.

In the mdd'ification shown in Fig. 4 and the detail views thereof a portion 15 is struck outward from the slide so as to form a recess in the rear thereof to receive an element 16 at the inner end of a threaded stem 17. A thumb nut 18 mounted on the outer end of the threaded. stem 17 is adapted to engage the folded edge portion of the base 1 forming the upper guide way, thereby holding thev slide 8 in the adjusted position as will be readily understood. The element 16 constitutesa head at the inner end `of the threaded stem 17 and is of such formation asto'prevent turning of the stem when the nut 18 is rotated to secure or release thev .asmuch as the pencil guides are substantially of like formation a detailed description of one will suflice for a clear understanding of each. With reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings the pencil guide comprises elements 19 and 20 which are preferably disposed in different planes. The element 19 is adapted to enter an inclined slot of the base 1 whereas the element 20 enters a perpendicular slot of the slide 8. The elements A19 and 20 are elongated and of a width to snugly fit within the respective slots so as to obviate any appreciable play and yet admit of the slides movingfreely in their respective coperating slots. The elements 19 and 20 are disposed at angles which correspond with the relative inclination of the perpendicular and inclined slots in which the said elements cooperate and move.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 of the draw ings it is observed that a pencil guide is Yprovided for the slots 9 and 5, 10 and 6, and

11 and 7, said pencil guides occupying a position coinciding with the crossing` of the respective slots. Each of the pencil guides has an opening 21 through which the point of a pencil, or other stylus or marker, is adapted to project when laying off the guide line. The opening 4 in the base 1 is for a like. purpose namely to receive the marking or laying olf point of the pencil or like instrument. The pencil guides may be of any construction and are adapted to be placed in'position in any manner. 1t must be remembered that the parts 1 and 8 are of sheet material, hence they maybe sprung apart to admit of placing the pencil guides in position and the latter are retained in place by having the element 20 disposed in a perpendicular slot and the element 19 loslide 8 along the base 1 will causeV a movement of the pencil guides along an inclined slot and along a perpendicular slot and since the inclined slots are disposed at varying angles the perpendicular movements of the series of pencil guides will vary proportionately to the amount of longitudinal movement of the slide 8 on the base 1 thereby resultingin a proportional perpendicular movement of the several pencil guides.

Vhen the slide 8 is at the limit of its movement to the left of the base 1 the opening 4 in the base and the openings 21 of the pencil guides will appear on a straight line which is parallel with the lower edge of the base 1. This is shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Then the slide is moved along the base 1 toward the right hand end thereof the several pencil guides will move in their respective cooperating inclined and perpendicular slots and assumes positions at different distances from the lower edge of the base 1. This is indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. By having the inclination of the slots 5, 6, and 7 according to predetermined angles the relative distance of the pencil guides from the lower edge of the base may be determined so that lines may be laid off to admit of lettering according to any required scale so that the small letters may be one-half, one-third, or any other proportional length of the capital letters. In the present instance the inclined slots are laid oil' so that the small letters will be three-fourths, two-thirds, or onehalf the length of the capital letters. If it be proposed to lay off lines so that the small letters will be three-fourths the length of the capital letters the pencil guides operating in the inclined slots 5 and 6 are used for drawing the top and intermediate lines, the bottom line always being determined by the opening 4.- If it be required to lay off lines so that the small letters will be about twothirds the length of the capital letters thc slides operating in the inclined slots 6 and 7 will be used to lay olf the top and intermediate lines. For laying off lines so that the capital letters will be twice the length of the small letters the slides operating in the slots 5 and 7 will be used to lay oif the top and intermediate lines. The height of the lettering is determined by the scale 12 and the slide 8 is moved on the base 14 until the pencil guide corresponding with the topmost line reaches the required indication on the scale 12 when the slide is retained in the adjusted position by means of the spring 13 or the nut 18 or their equivalent. A ruler or other straight edge is placed in position and the base is disposed on the surface with its lower edge in contact with the directing edge of the ruler after which the point of a pencil or like marker is introduced in the opening 4 and the device is moved over the surface, and the lowermost line is drawn thereon. The device is now moved back to the starting point and the pencil is passed through the opening of one of the pencil guides and the device'is againmo-ved over the surface and in contact with thedirecting edge of the ruler. This results in form ing the second line of the group. The device is again returned tothe starting point and the point of the pencil is passed through the opening of the second slide after which the device is again moved vover the surface thus drawing the third or last line of the group. It will be understood that a group of lines consists of atop line and bottom line and an intermediate line, the bottom line being determined by the opening 4 and the top and intermediate lines by the openings in two of the selected pencil guides. It will thus be understood that the device may be quickly set so as to lay outlines for forming lettering in which the small letters may be of any relative proportional length to the capital letters.

' It is assumed that the natural position of the device when in service is with its fbottom edge parallel with the horizon; hence, the slots 5, 6 and 7 are inclined and the slots 9, 10 and 11 perpendicular relatively to the bottoni edge of the base 1, and these terms are to be so construed in the specification and claims when employed in connection with the inclined slots 5, 6 and 7 and the perpendicular slots 9, l0, and 11.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. lt is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An instrument for laying off guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots relatively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to said straight edge and guides for a pencil point or like marker having portions disposed in the inclined and perpendicular slots.

2. An instrument for laying off guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots relatively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to said straight edge and guides for a pencil point or like marker having portions disposed in the inclined and perpendicular slots, each of the guides having portions in different relative planes corresponding with the different planes 'of the base and slide so as to operate in the slots formed therein.

3. An instrument for laying off guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots relatively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to said straight edge and guides for a pencil point or like marker having portions disposed in the inclined and perpendicular slots, each of the guides having an opening to receive the point of the marker.

4. An instrument for laying off guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots relatively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to said straight edge and guides for a pencil point or like marker having portions disposed in the inclined and perpendicular slots and means for holding the slide in the adjusted i position.

5. An instrument for laying 0E guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and provided with a Vplurality of slots relatively inclined at dif ferent angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to said straight edge and guides for a pencil point or like marker having portions disposed in the inclined and perpendicular slots, each of the guides comprising elongated elements disposed at angles to each other corresponding to the angles between the inclined and perpendicular slots.

6. An instrument for laying ofi' guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and having spaced guide ways parallel with said straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots rela tively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and directed in its movement by said guide ways and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to the said straight edge and a plurality of guides having portions mounted in the inclined and perpendicular slots and adapted to receive movement relatively to said base and slide simultaneously with the movement of the slide on the base, the base and guides having openings to receive the point of a pencil or other marker.

7. An instrument for laying oif guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and having spaced guide ways parallel with said straight edge and provided with a plurality' of slots rela- -tively inclined at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base vways and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to the said straight edge and a pluralityV of guides having portions mounted in the inclined and perpendicular slots and adapted to receive movement relatively to said base and slide simultaneously with the movement of the slide on the base, the base and guides having openings to receive the point of a pencil or other marker and the slide being provided with a scale graduation for determining the height of the lettering.

8. An instrument for laying off guide lines for lettering, the same comprising a base having a straight edge and having spaced guide ways parallel with said straight edge and provided with a plurality of slots relatively inclinedV at different angles to said straight edge, a slide movable on the base and directed in itsmovement by said guide ways and provided with a plurality of slots perpendicular to the said straight edge and a pluralityfof guides having portions mounted inthe inclined and perpendicular slots and adapted to receiveI movement relatively to said base and slide simultaneously with the movement of the slide on the base, the base and guides having openings to receive .the point of a pencil or other marker and the slide being provided with a scale graduation for determining the height of the lettering and the base being likewise provided with a scale graduation for determining the distance between the groups of guide lines for the lettering.

In testimony whereof I. afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY R. SHIF'FER.

Witnesses R. M. SHIFFER, J. E. SHIFFER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve. cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patent: Washington, D. 0. 

